NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A new Vanderbilt Poll shows many Nashville residents are feeling less optimistic about the city’s direction — and the impact of the recent winter storm appears to be a major factor.
The 2026 survey found 56% of residents believe Nashville is on the wrong track. That’s a notable jump from 42% just one year ago. Researchers said the shift likely reflects the aftermath of January’s Winter Storm Fern, which affected more than three-quarters of respondents and left many without power for days.
Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s approval rating also dropped, falling from 67% in 2025 to 54% this year. While that still represents a majority, only 35% of respondents said they approved of how the city handled storm recovery. Approval of Metro Council also declined, with more residents now disapproving than approving for the first time in the poll’s history.
One of the biggest areas of concern was Nashville Electric Service. Only 39% of respondents said they approve of the utility, while 61% said they disapprove — including its response to the storm. Still, many residents pointed to the storm itself as the main cause of problems, with 44% blaming “Mother Nature.”
Beyond storm recovery, affordability continues to weigh heavily on residents. The poll found 82% of Nashvillians say they cannot afford to buy a home in Davidson County. Affordable housing ranked as a top priority for 73% of respondents, alongside concerns about traffic, crime and the city’s long-term financial health.
There are also growing concerns about how fast Nashville is expanding. Nearly 8 in 10 residents said the city’s population is growing too quickly, and many reported that recent changes have made their day-to-day lives worse.
At the same time, many residents want city leaders to focus more on neighborhood-level issues. A majority — 71% — said the city is not spending enough time addressing problems in local communities.
In response to the poll, the mayor’s office emphasized both the challenges and progress the city is seeing.
“This poll reflects what we know: the cost of living is a pervasive challenge for our city and many others,” the mayor’s office said.
“Despite that challenge, we have so much to be proud of in Nashville. Crime is down. School performance is up. Unemployment is low. Transit is getting better and more reliable… And we've built and funded more homes with our affordable housing tools this year than in any other time since we've been tracking the measure.”
City leaders also acknowledged more work is ahead, particularly when it comes to affordability.
“Still, when 82% of people feel they can't afford to buy a home in Davidson County — we know there is much more work to do.”
You never know what impact you can have on others — Patsy Montesinos brings us that reminder with a story featuring some very familiar faces. Enjoy this story and go vote for Shante!
- Carrie Sharp
